JONATHAN McEVOY: There was only going to be one winner if Max Verstappen was asked to choose between his boss Christian Horner and his dad Jos… as Lewis Hamilton stirs the pot

If it If the question was whether Max Verstappen would support his boss or his father, there could only be one answer. His father.

The three-time world champion knew what was going to happen in the Jeddah paddock. What did he think of his father Jos’ comment that the Red Bull team will ‘explode’ unless Christian Horner steps down as team boss?

There was no need for Lewis Hamilton, next door, to light a match by saying his old nemesis was on the list of Mercedes replacements for him, a transfer that would only happen if, as Jos suggests, Horner stays or the world champion team will be blown apart. But Hamilton said it.

A few minutes after Lewis spoke, Max took his seat at an unusually busy press conference in the team hospitality area and took a deep breath before laying out his considered response. It should be noted that in the nine minutes of the interview he did not mention the words “Christian” or “Horner” once.

The most striking line, as reported on the back page today, was his insistence that his father “is not a liar.” Which indicated that he thinks Jos’ description of the commotion at Red Bull on Saturday is true. Presumably it also means he agrees with his old man’s broader assessment: ‘There’s tension here as he stays in position. The team is in danger of falling apart. It cannot continue as it is.

Jos Verstappen (right) claimed Red Bull will ‘explode’ if Christian Horner stays with the team

It comes as the husband of former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell fights for his future at Red Bull amid allegations of inappropriate behavior towards a female staff member

‘Horner plays the victim, while he is the one causing the problems.’

Max is usually less vocal than his father, but he is not a man who backs down when he feels offended. Last week Max was asked four times whether he wanted to give unequivocal support to Horner; four times he refused. And yesterday, when asked if he could stay at Red Bull with Horner in post, Verstappen simply said: ‘Well, we are at the moment. What I want, and it doesn’t matter who is involved in the team, is a calm environment where everyone enjoys working.’

In contrast, he said of his father and manager Raymond Vermeulen: “I don’t see myself in F1 without them.”

As far as I understand it, the core of the problem is this: Max supports Jos; Max wants calm; Jos respects that; Jos still hates Christian. Which of these feelings prevails could potentially determine Horner’s fate in the longer term.

But barring a startling new piece of evidence, Horner is likely to remain in office for the time being after being cleared by an internal investigation into ‘coercive behavior’ towards a female colleague. This despite allegedly sexually suggestive WhatsApp messages.

Horner – now apparently better known as ‘Geri’s husband’, as the headlines call it – has his right of reply at a press conference here today.

The most positive interpretation Horner can make of Verstappen Jr.’s comments is that he expresses public support for his father and mentor, not wanting to betray him, but privately wanting to draw a line under the confusion.

As for a possible switch to Mercedes: this is the nuclear option. In the meantime, it is certainly a powerful bargaining chip for the Verstappen camp.

Max has a contract until 2028, but there are release clauses that allow him to move earlier. One is as his ally Dr. Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, would leave the team. Marko attended the celebration of Jos’ 52nd birthday in Dubai on Monday. Horner, despite being in the emirate, was not invited.

Fuel was added to the Mercedes link when Jos met team boss Toto Wolff in Bahrain last week.

Asked about the possibility of switching to the pit lane, Max said: ‘No one would have seen Lewis moving to Ferrari. You never know in life what will happen, or come to you, or happen around you, or what might affect you, so you can never say 100 percent that it will be that way, and that’s the way I approach problems. to live.

‘I am very relaxed and very happy with the team and the performances are there, so there is no reason to leave.’

Horner and Verstappen have combined for three consecutive world championship victories

Verstappen is signed until 2028, but there are release clauses that could allow him to move sooner

Lewis Hamilton thinks that Verstappen is a serious contender to replace him at Mercedes

As for Hamilton, he knows what it’s like to have an active father in your racing career. Anthony was his manager before they fell out and it took years to rebuild what was broken.

“He (Jos) is not part of the team,” said the seven-time world champion. “He’s a parent, so it doesn’t help at all.

“It’s a very fine line to walk. It also depends on your relationship with your parents.

‘I don’t know anything about his relationship. You hear something here and there. But Max is a grown man and a champion and he can make his own decisions.”